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Cargo traffic shifting to other European hubs, fewer safety checks on goods, and disappointing tax revenues. This is the warning issued by Confetra (the Italian General Confederation of Transport and Logistics) during the Customs Assembly. At the core of the analysis is the new Italian tax on international e-commerce, which was implemented by the Budget Law and will be effective on July 1, 2026. According to the legislation's technical study, the tax should raise €122.5 million for the state in 2026 and €245 million per year beginning in 2027. However, European logistics is tightly integrated: if Italy becomes more expensive, large couriers will relocate cargo flights to Germany, Belgium, or the Netherlands, then carry the products to Italy by vehicle. Furthermore, a European duty of €3 per cargo will be imposed beginning in July (25% of which will remain with the country where customs clearing occurs), and a European handling fee will be implemented beginning in November. Confetra simulated two scenarios for the period July-November 2026 to better understand the impact of this overlap: in the scenario with the Italian tax in place, the country would lose 50% of its traffic, while the state would collect a total of €70 million, with the Italian tax accounting for only €51 million. If the Italian tax was abolished, the internal tax would be eliminated, but 100% of its traffic would still be recovered, with €38 million collected solely from European charges.
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